Ever since Lupita Nyong’o burst on the scene and became one of Hollywood’s ubiquitous “it girls,” Black women have waited for her to cover Essence.

While the starlet was honored by the mag at its annual Black Women In Hollywood luncheon back in 2014 (and she gave an emotional speech about “dark beauty”), fans wondered why she hadn’t graced the cover of the mag for and about Black women.

Well, the wait is over.

The Kenyan actress is Essence’s January cover star and she looks STUNNING.

Though Nyong’o’s beauty and fierce physique is on full display, its her willingness to be vulnerable that really shines.

“…The stage of self-doubt is never eliminated. It’s work. It doesn’t come naturally or easily because I have a golden statue sitting on my shelf…”—Lupita Nyong’o, ESSENCE

In the article, Nyong’o opens up about her struggles with self-doubt, how she dealt with winning an Oscar, and her role in Danai Gurira’s play, Eclipsed, about a group of women affected by the Liberian civil war.

Greg Lotus/ESSENCE

Though the Star Wars actress seemed to be everywhere after her Oscar win, she admitted to Essence she almost lost herself.

“After 12 Years a Slave and the quote-unquote meteoric rise, I felt like there was a moment where I was suffering from whiplash,” Nyong’o said. “I had talked so much about who I was that I’d forgotten who I was!”

Pick up the issue to read Nyong’o’s full interview when it hits newsstands on December 4.

Any human will experience self doubt at least once in life. So, Lupita Nyong’o once again eloquently has shown the world how beauty is wisdom. She has shown women and girls in the world about their values and about how their lives plus aspirations matter. She made the great speech to outline the truth that dark skin is beautiful and that black women should always continue to shine their gifts in world society. She is deserving of all of the positive superlatives to describe her. She is worthy of that. She is not only a role model. She’s a blessing. Her words of self-reflection and of humility plus her words of strength and gracious insights just inspire people in a progressive fashion. We are all thankful of her presence, of her intellect, and of her personable, human compassion. Yes, she looks very gorgeous in the cover of Essence.